The SABC saga has somewhat died down given the explosive affidavit from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. It questions R6.8 billion worth of transactions as enacted by Gupta-owned companies. Die Burger’s Jan Gerber however penned an interesting analysis on how the ANC in parliament is dealing with the state-owned broadcaster. He says it is a change in approach, and while one swallow doesn’t make a summer, he’s cautiously optimistic. The article was first published in Afrikaans, and has been translated by regular Biznews contributor Ed Herbst. – Stuart Lowman
By Jan Gerber*
‘And was that really so difficult?’ I wondered as I walked out of the communication portfolio committee in parliament last Wednesday.
When the SABC board appeared before them, the ANC LPs in the committee found those scarce political commodities – a backbone and a conscience (or at least a glimmer thereof) – and performed the oversight role for which they were elected to parliament.
With the exception of the Ellen Tshabalala incident, when the committee investigated the disgraced SABC board chairperson and found that she had lied about her qualifications, the ANC-dominated committee has never – in the two and a half years that I have been covering the committee as a reporter – hauled the struggling SABC and its main clown, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, over the coals.
The committee never discussed the report by the Public Protector, ‘When Governance and Ethics Fail’, which contained a series of adverse findings against Motsoeneng. The opposition’s attempts to raise the matter, were obstructed on every occasion by the ANC.
The opposition tried really hard to have the committee perform its oversight role in this regard but the ANC cadres had other plans and, with its majority, was able to thwart each attempt.
If the SABC was a runaway train, with a clown in a purple suit stoking the engine, the ANC members in the committee would rather tie the opposition MPs onto the rails than help them to stop the train.
So, someone I trust tells me Hlaudi's very vocal in SABC corridors that he "made ANC" and "no one" can get rid of him. Your move Mr Zuma!
— Melanie Webb (@MelanieWebbSA) October 9, 2016
But last Wednesday was different. It was the ANC MPs who, for the first time, raised concerns about the Public Protector’s report on Motsoeneng – 32 months after it was issued, 32 months during which time Motsoeneng caused the SABC immeasurable harm. ‘Better late than never,’ as Zizi Kodwa, the ANC spokesman, said after that meeting.
But why now? Motsoeneng and his cronies have been overplaying their hand for some time, becoming more and more of a joke in the process. This is of course, reflects badly on the ANC. It also seems, however, that the ANC’s recent humiliation at the polls has caused (at least a faction of) the party to have a change of heart.
A week prior to this meeting Jackson Mthembu, the ANC chief whip, had already made it clear that the ANC would no longer tolerate the SABC’s nonsense. A day before the meeting it was announced that three ANC MPs in the committee would be replaced – among others, Maesela ‘Big Boy’ Kekana, who had previously tried to shout down the opposition rather than putting cogent questions to the SABC.
So Hlaudi successfully united the ANC and opposition in Parliament today. Apparently, he can work miracles.
— John Webb (@journojohn) October 5, 2016
Unfortunately it remains a fact that the success of parliament as an oversight instrument depends on the ANC.
I am not saying one swallow makes a summer, but I am cautiously optimistic that what happened in the communication committee, on this occasion, is an indication of a change in the ANC’s approach in parliament which could lead to a better governance.
The marauding faction will, of course, fight back.
As Fokofpolisiekar (in another context) sang:
‘Hierdie gaan nog lank vat, hierdie gaan nog seermaak.’
(This will take a long time and it is going to be painful.)
- This article was published in Die Burger and, with the permission of the author and copyright holder, was translated by Ed Herbst.
